International Youth Day 2021: Why it is celebrated, date, theme this year

International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12. The theme this year is "Transforming Food Systems”.

International Youth Day 2021 (credit-Official website)International Youth Day 2021 (credit-Official website)

Abhijit Srivastava | August 12, 2021 | 02:06 PM IST

NEW DELHI: The International Youth Day is observed every year on August 12. Every year governments from across the globe recognise the problems faced by the youth of the country.

In 1999 the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the recommendation to mark a Youth Day made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth. The theme for every year is based on suggestions made by the various youth organisations. The theme for Youth Day 2021 is "Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health".

In recognition of this day, the programme encourages youth to raise awareness about the problems related to their group in their countries. “The programme encourages youth around the world to organize activities to raise awareness about the situation of youth in their country,” says the United Nations’ official website on International Youth Day.

International Youth Day Theme

Explaining the choice of the International Youth Day theme, the UN page says: “It has been acknowledged that there is a need for inclusive support mechanisms that ensure youth continue to amplify efforts collectively and individually to restore the planet and protect life, while integrating biodiversity in the transformation of food systems. With the world’s population expected to increase by 2 billion people in the next 30 years, it has become recognized by numerous stakeholders that simply producing a larger volume of healthier food more sustainably will not ensure human and planetary wellbeing. Other crucial challenges must also be addressed, such as the interlinkages embodied by the 2030 Agenda including poverty reduction; social inclusion; health care; biodiversity conservation; and climate change mitigation.”

This year, because of the COVID-19, pandemic the programme’s website has listed a set of ideas with which one can contribute to raising awareness on youth related issues.

The site suggests creating awareness by organising online events such as round table discussions, radio talks, creating information points, organising e-exhibitions, virtual cultural programmes, online forums for discussions on youth problems, and writing to the ministers of youth informing them about the problems faced by the youth.

International Youth Day Quotes

The Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu said: “Youth, with their new ideas and abundant energy, should lead the transformation of the nation. They should be at the forefront of fighting social evils like casteism, corruption, dowry and illiteracy.”

The Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, wrote on social media: “Passion, ideas and creativity of the youth [have] the power to change the course of future. My greetings to the youth of India on International Youth Day. Today, let us celebrate the achievements and efforts of our young and pledge to encourage and strengthen their voice and aspirations.”

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